Third Annual Downtown Wayne Scarecrow Fest

The kids loved meeting Bluey and Bingo at Scarecrow Fest.

By Sarah Shurge – For the third year in a row, Scarecrow Fest will be returning to the city of Wayne!
Rachel Botu, owner of Flowers in the Mitten, is hosting Downtown Wayne Scarecrow Fest. The event will be Saturday, September 20th, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. at 1 Towne Square St.
“Last year was amazing. There was an overwhelming amount of people,” said Botu. “This year, even though it’s a new location, we’ve added a bunch more activities for kids.
We’re still hoping for that same amount of community presence.”
This year, the event will have music, face painting, crafts and games, seven food trucks, free cider and donuts, 40 vendors and crafters, and a raffle tent. New this year: an information tent where you can get a timeline/event program. Punch cards will be introduced where you can shop with crafters and vendors and enter your punch card in a raffle. There will be a painting tent for kids where they can paint a wooden scarecrow face. Also, there will be a backdrop for fall photos.
The Wayne Historical Society will be open during the event for people to view.
Six costume characters (Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Jack Skellington, Maleficent, Bluey, and Bingo) will be at the event to meet with the kids. DJ Lou will perform from noon – 5 p.m. The scarecrow winners will be announced at 5 p.m.
There will be first and second place prizes for Best Overall Scarecrow, along with first and second place prizes for Most Creative Scarecrow.
You will get to vote for the scarecrow winners by scanning QR codes at the event.
If you’d like to get involved in the scarecrow competition, you can contact Botu at Flowers in the Mitten by email at flowersinthemitten@-gmail.com or call (734)992-8334. It costs $20 and you can pick up a scarecrow frame at the flower shop or reuse a previous frame for a reduced cost.
Scarecrows are due by Saturday, September 13th. They will remain up throughout Halloween.
Botu wanted to give a special shout out to Lanterns Church for making kids games, First Congregational Church of Wayne for the scarecrow face painting, and Hill Crest Bible Church for kid activities inside the church.
The event is hosted by Flowers in the Mitten, Makers Market, and the Downtown Development Authority (DDA), and sponsored by Ford Motor Company, Wayne Rotary Club, Wayne-Westland Credit Union, Professional Insurance Associates (PIA), Lanterns Church, First Congregational Church of Wayne, and Hill Crest Bible Church.
For more information about the Scarecrow Fest, you can check out the event Facebook page by searching “Downtown Wayne Scarecrow Fest”. There you will find announcements, photos from previous years, the link to vote for the scarecrows, and more.
“This event is made for the community. Without them, we wouldn’t be here. We appreciate everyone’s support. Come to this family fun event and enjoy the day,” said Botu.
Flowers in the Mitten was designed as a one-stop shop with customized items. Botu provides both custom work and items you can buy in store as well. You can purchase flower arrangements, stuffed animals for flower arrangements, angels and lanterns with LED candles, garden decor, sympathy stones, cement benches, standing stones on an easel, and more.
Botu’s husband, Paul, is a partner with the shop and does all the woodworking. You can order a custom sign for a wedding, wedding flowers, or custom pieces. The shop just needs a few days in advance to create them.
Botu also owns the Makers Market as well. There are 30 different crafters inside the shop.
Botu tries to host two events/classes per month for either Flowers in the Mitten or the Makers Market. The shop is currently being transformed for the fall season. There will be Halloween flower classes and cookie classes, as well as Small Business Saturday after Thanksgiving.
Flowers in the Mitten is located at 34852 W Michigan Ave, and is open 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday – Friday, and 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Saturday. For more information about Flowers in the Mitten, you can visit the website at flowersinthemitten.com, contact flowersinthemitten@gmail.com, or call (734)992-8334. You can also check out its Facebook page by searching “Flowers in the Mitten” for live videos, giveaways, and announcements. For more information about the Makers Market, you can check out its Facebook page by searching “Makers Market in Downtown Wayne”.